Winding and setting mechanism for watches



Feb. 1, 1927.

.1. G. BERGER WINDING AND SETTING MECHANISM FOR WATCHES med my 21 1925 Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN G. BERGER, OF BRECKENRIDGE, TEXAS.

WINDING ANI) SETTNG MECHANISM FOR FTATCHES.

Application filed July 1, 1925.

This invention relates` to watches and more particularly to that type of watch equipped @with stem winding and set/ting mechanism, in which is employed a sleeve, arranged to co-act with the stem, to hold the latter' in' respective Isetting and winding position within the pendant, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a substitute for this sleeve whereby threading of the interiorl kperiphery of the pendant may be dispensed with.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a device to facilitate the winding and setting of a watch, and by the elimination of certain present elements of assem bly, affords a more durable and practical vwinding and setting mechanism more acces sible to repair.

A further aim of the invention is to provide an exterior means to interiorly control the actuation of the winding stem, such 4 means being` durably and substantially constructed and co-acting wi-th the other mechanism in such a manner as to obviate possible fracture or causing injury to such mechanism or the controlling means.

llVith the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view, the invention has part-icular referenceto certain novel features vofv construction and arrangement of parts,

.bv which said objects are attained, and

which will be set forth and manifested in the course `of the following detailed descrip- UI i tion and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l represents a vertical cross-section of a watch pen-dant, whereon the invention appears.

Figure 2 is a side elevation in vertical section, further illustrating the function and application of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 illustrates an L shaped slot in the watch pendant, whereby the invention is actuated to control the movement of the stem interiorly of the pendant.

' ture to that shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the pendant, showing the position of the controlling device depicted in Figure 5, and

Serial No. 45,001.

Figure 8 is a similar view, showing the pcsition of the equivalent structure, illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a view o f a watch case partly in section, having therein a movement from which the dial has been removed to show the spring control of the stem.

Continuing further with the present in vention a watch case 1 of the usual construction is shown, having a pendant 2 thereon, in which is provided an l. shaped slot 3, which slot, it will be observed, is

formed to produce an offset portion at (L, the

purpose of which will be later made clear.

The construction and function of the'usual sleeve employed to alternately set and maintain the stem 4 in relative setting and wind.- ing position within the pendant, being well known, it is suflicient to mention that no threading is required to be made inthe inner In assembling the mechanism to provide accurate control of the winding and setting' mechanism, the stem 4 is inserted into the pendant 2 at the lower end thereof, so as to engage the shoulder 7) thereon with the slide 5, whereupon a crown 8 is screwed upon its threaded end, as shown. Being thus held therein, the watch movement is installed in the usual manner, to engage with the squared end of the stem. Then this is done, however, the pin 7 naturally assumes a position within the vertical portion of the L shaped slot 3, after being released from the offset portion a thereof. In this latter position, the hands may be Set upon the face of the watch.

While manipulation of the slide 5 to control the movement of the stem 4 may be successfully accomplished without the aid of spring, such an element is afforded in the usual watch construction, and with which the invention may (zo-operate. This arrangement .illustrated in Figure 9 which includes a movement 7"- in the case l with the dial removed, and an assembly of co-acting levers 8 and 9 controlled by a set spring 10. It is obvious in this ligure that the action of the spring l0 against the lever 8 is to constantly urge the stem l upwardly, and manual pressure against the crown 8 forces the stem back to normal winding position, in which position the stem is maintained bv a. spring sleeve, in cases where this element is employed. However, the present invention proposes to hold the stem in winding position by manipulation ot the pin 7, into the horizontal or lateral portion oit the slot 3.

lVhen it is required to wind the movement, the screw 7 is pressed into position in the lateral portion ot the slot 3, and into the offset a. This action depresses the stem 4 to its lowest and winding position, and it is rcstrained from accidental release by the position oi the screw 7 in the offset a, as provided and heretofore described. To elt'ect setting position, the screw 7 is released trom the offset a whereupon the said screw assumes its position in the vertical portion ot the slot 3, as in Figure land when this is done the stem il is released by the slides 5, permitting the stem to automatically move to setting position.

in equivalent structure is also illustrated, which may be employed in preference to the structure described in the foregoing. This structure consists of a small tube 9, shown in Figures 3, 5 and 7. This tube is arranged within the inner periphery oi the pendant 2, and through it, the stem 4i is inserted, whereby to permit the shoulder thereon to en gage the lower end of said tube, to thus be aii'ected by the actuation oi'f said tube. The screw 7 is threaded into the tube intermediate its ends and is likewise arranged to actuate within the slot 3, whereby to permit of longitudinal movement of the tube within the pendant.

Thus, it is obvious how the present invention aims to overcome the common disadvantage accruing from springing, breaking or otherwise impairing the sleeve used in the winding and setting equipment of the usual watch case structure, and which is usually of very fragile construction, and in addition to this very prominent feature, the invention further dispenses with certain other elements required in the operativeness of the present equipment, to reduce substantially the obvious expense incident thereto, and, to provide a simple assembly arranged for ready repair and convenient access in cases of possible breakage.

lt should be herein understood however, that it is not desired that the .invention be limited to the specific disclosure herein set `forth, and that such minor changes and modifications may be resorted to as fall Within the meaning and scope of what is herein claimed.

I claim:

l. A stem controlling mechanism for watches, including in combination with a slotted pendant, and stem, a member arranged to impinge upon said stem within the pendant, means slidable within said slot to move said member longitudinally of said pendant to permit movement ofl said stem into and out ot engagement with the watch mechanism, and means to manually lock said controlling means to hold said stem in winding' position within the pendant.

2. ln a stem controlling mechanisin for watches, in combination with a pendant and stem, ineens associated with the pendant to engage the stem, means to effect movementl ol' said iirst means from the exterior of the periphery of the pendant into and out of engagement with the watch mechanism, and means to latch the second means to hold the stem in winding position.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN G. BERGER. 

